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Grizzly Softball Camps

Coaching Staff

Kat Ihlenburg
Head Coach

  • Led GGC to the NAIA World Series in 2023, 2019 and 2018
  • Grizzlies earned first No. 1 national ranking in 2018
  • Semifinal appearance at the 2019 NAIA World Series
  • Consecutive 50-win seasons (2018 and 2017)
  • Amassed over 400 victories in the program's first 11 seasons (.725 winning percentage)

The first head coach of the Georgia Gwinnett College softball program, Kat Ihlenburg has developed the Grizzlies into a championship squad built upon toughness, character and a devotion to its community.

Ihlenburg led the program to its first NAIA World Series appearance in 2018 in just its sixth season. She has led the Grizzlies to seven Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.)/Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) tournament championships, eight trips to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national tournament, and recognition as the NAIA Champions of Character team award winner. She has totaled a 412-156-2 (.725) record and recorded back-to-back 50-win seasons in 2018 and 2017.

Ihlenburg was named a conference Coach of the Year in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, and 2017 after sharing the honor during the 2016 and 2015 seasons. She has led the Grizzlies to conference championships in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2015 and eight national tournament bids (2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015).

Ihlenburg and the coaching staff received the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award for the 2023 and 2019 seasons.

The Grizzlies hosted a NAIA Opening Round for the seventh consecutive season in 2023, where they defeated College of Coastal Georgia 6-5 victory in 11 innings in the championship game. GGC posted a 45-12 record and reached the NAIA World Series for the third time in program history and first since 2019.

GGC swept through the inaugural CAC tournament, defeating Cottey (Missouri) 1-0 in the championship game behind the first perfect game in program history from Alexa Good during the 2022 season.

She mentored three All-America efforts by the NAIA and the NFCA during the 2023 campaign, led by Annalise Wood who was named the National Pitcher of the Year by both organizations. Sydney Pelaez garnered the NFCA's Catcher of the Year award while earning second NAIA All-America team accolades. Lindzie Owen was a first-team All-American selection by the NAIA and NFCA in 2023.

Wood became the first pitcher in NAIA history to throw three perfect games in the same season when he tossed perfect games against Ohio Christian University, Bacone College (Oklahoma) and Truett-McConnell University (Georgia).

Ihlenburg collected her 400th career coaching victory in the opener of a road doubleheader against Webber International University (Florida) on April 22, 2023.

Piper Wagner garnered CAC Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season and was named a first-team All-American by the NFCA and NAIA in 2022.

Seven players garnered All-A.I.I. accolades, including the Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year during the 2021 campaign. Piper Wagner garnered first NFCA All-America team accolades after earning the Player of the Year award. Alexa Good set school records for strikeouts and was a second NFCA All-America team honors after garnering the Pitcher of the Year award in 2021. She guided the Grizzlies to a No. 14 national ranking after being inside the top-10 all season. GGC won both games against Cottey (Missouri) in the championship round of the 2021 A.I.I. tournament. Ihlenburg helped the Grizzlies host the Lawrenceville Bracket of the NAIA Opening Round and was the top seed in the bracket.

The 2019 season featured the program's deepest postseason run with a semifinal appearance at the World Series. The Grizzlies knocked off No. 2 Marian (Indiana) during the World Series run, marking the highest ranked opponent the program has defeated. Other wins against Vanguard (California) and Oregon Tech were recorded at the World Series in Springfield, Missouri. Ihlenburg guided the Grizzlies to 45 victories, sweep the Lawrenceville Bracket of the NAIA Opening Round and the A.I.I. title. Aubree Cox earned the A.I.I. Player of the Year award and Taylor Hansis garnered the league's Pitcher of the Year award for the third consecutive season. RaeQuinn Rossetti, Piper Wagner joined Cox and Hansis as NAIA All-Americans following the season.

In 2018, she guided the Grizzlies to their first No. 1 national ranking and a school-record 53 victories. The new heights for the program also featured a NAIA World Series appearance -- a first for the program. GGC defeated Oregon Tech in the final game of the Lawrenceville Bracket of the NAIA Opening Round. The Grizzlies also defeated Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) during its first game at the World Series. Ihlenburg received the A.I.I. Coach of the Year award and led the program to the conference title.

The 2017 squad set a program record with a 50-9-1 record. GGC hosted the opening round of the NAIA national tournament. Niki Cook captured first team All-America honors by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and the NAIA.

Georgia Gwinnett finished the 2016 campaign with 44 wins. The centralized theme of continuity was an ever-present factor throughout the season as the Grizzlies continued to build their program and establish their standard of achieving excellence for years to come.

The 2015 GGC squad posted a 37-16 record under Ihlenburg and was marked by a dominating performance at home at the Grizzly Softball Complex. The Grizzlies went 26-2 in Lawrenceville on the season, winning their first 22 consecutive home games to start the year. Senior infielder Cassidy Littlefield cemented herself as one of the top players in the country, earning her second straight NAIA first team All-American nod and being named unanimous A.I.I. Player of the Year.

The 2014 season, GGC’s first as a fully-eligible NAIA member, saw Ihlenburg lay a championship foundation for her program by guiding Georgia Gwinnett to an outstanding 39-10-1 record. The Grizzlies earned votes for the first time in the Top 25 Coaches’ Poll, claimed their first postseason victory, and boasted four all-conference selections, including A.I.I. Co-Player of the Year Cassidy Littlefield.

Ihlenburg brought eight years of previous collegiate softball coaching experience to GGC.

She spent seven years as an assistant at the College of Charleston (South Carolina) to then-head coach Shelly Hoerner, for whom she played collegiately. During Ihlenburg’s time with the Cougars, 26 players were selected as all-conference members for the Southern Conference. Two athletes were named conference Player of the Year and one Pitcher of the Year, while three players were named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region team.

Prior to her time in Charleston, Ihlenburg spent one season on the staff at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia.

As a player, Ihlenburg caught and played outfield for Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. She helped guide the Buccaneers to the 2002 Division II College World Series and set a new school single-season wins record. She graduated from Barry in 2004 with a bachelor of arts in public relations.

Coach Kat FamilyIhlenburg serves as a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and has spent multiple seasons coaching abroad- in Belgium, Italy, the Czech Republic and the Dominican Republic- for USA Athletes International and American International Sports Teams. She also has directed and been an instructor for softball camps at Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia Tech, the College of Charleston, the University of Alabama, North Carolina State University, Reinhardt University, Tennessee Tech and the University of Tennessee. The Grizzly Softball Complex routinely plays host to elite showcases and other prospect events with organizations such as On Deck Softball, Champions Fastpitch Academy and College Coaches Skills Camp thanks in large part to Ihlenburg’s efforts.

Ihlenburg grew up in Nashville, Tenn., and graduated from Father Ryan High School. She and her husband, Mark, have two children, Elizabeth and Reid, and reside in Gwinnett County.

John Ihlenburg
Assistant Coach

Long around the game of baseball as a player and coach, John Ihlenburg joined the Grizzly softball staff prior to the 2013-14 season.

With the Grizzlies, Ihlenburg assists with day-to-day operations and instruction. Born in New York, Ihlenburg lived in Portland, Oregon, before attending high school in Canton, Massachusetts. He started his collegiate career playing football at Wake Forest University before transferring to the University of Connecticut to play baseball.

He is a graduate of UConn where he was an NCAA All-America selection, as well as a two time Academic All-America. A team captain, Ihlenburg was awarded the Eastern Athletic Conference Medallion for Athletic and Academic Prowess and was an All Region, All Conference selection.

He spent three years in the Cape Cod Baseball League and played for the Kansas City Royals organization after graduation.

Ihlenburg went on to coach at Fairfield University and Oglethorpe University before joining the staff at Reinhardt University in 2004. He served as head coach for the Eagles until 2013.

Outside of baseball, Ihlenburg flew the A-7E and A-4 and served as a Commander in the US Navy before retiring after 22 years of service.

He also flew as a Captain for Delta Airlines on the B-727, B-737, B-757 and B-767 aircraft.

Ihlenburg is the father-in-law of GGC head coach Kat Ihlenburg, who is married to John’s son Mark, also a former baseball player at UConn.

John and his wife, Kathy, have another son, Greg, a record-holder at Reinhardt, and currently reside in Buford, Ga.

Ashley Razey
Assistant Coach

Ashley Razey joined th Georgia Gwinnett College softball coaching staff as assistant coach for the 2023 season.

She comes to Lawrenceville after a professional career in New Zealand and The Netherlands since 2015. Razey also played in the ASBA during the 2019 season.

Razey played at the University of Georgia after beginning her collegiate career at the University of Southern Mississippi.

She worked with athletes ranging from ages 6-23 at the Present Elite training experience, proving hitting, catching, fielding, pitching, and speed and agility. The Gwinnett County native spent 2017 coaching the TSP Thunder under-16 team.